Encinitas enacts e-cigarette restrictions

New smoke-free, “buffer zones” also proposed near beaches, parks and outdoor eating areas

Encinitas will put electronic cigarettes, or “e-cigs,” on equal footing with traditional cigarettes, and ban their use at parks, beaches and restaurants.

The City Council unanimously gave its initial approval last week to proposed revisions to the city’s smoking ordinance, emphasizing that existing restrictions on cigarette and cigar use also apply to the new electronic smoking devices.

Saying people were “slow” to react to the dangers of tobacco decades ago, Mayor Teresa Barth said during a discussion at Wednesday night's council meeting that she didn’t want to make the same mistake now with electronic cigarettes and that’s why she was supporting changing the ordinance.

Councilman Tony Kranz said electronic cigarette users may stress that their new devices are “smoke-free,” but said he didn’t want to be exposed to the vapor.

Councilwoman Kristin Gaspar said she had horrible allergies and can’t be around smoke. She said she’s not opposed to people using the electric devices --- she wishes her cigarette-smoking brother would make the switch. However, she added, she supports the new restrictions, saying there should be “some boundaries with the devices.”

Cities across California, including many in San Diego County, are enacting similar restrictions. Earlier this month, the Del Mar Fairgrounds board and the El Cajon City Council agreed to restrict the use of electronic cigarettes.

Solana Beach, Vista, Carlsbad, Poway, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove also have or are set to revise their smoking ordinances. The San Diego City Council may take similar action later this year.

A ban on electronic smoking in public buildings also is working its way through the state Legislature.

Before Wednesday night’s vote, the Encinitas council heard from a dozen public speakers, with slightly more than half of them favoring the proposal. Many public health advocates said the city should pursue the changes, saying electronic smoking devices are being used by children and by people who want to hide their use of illegal drugs. But some business owners, including two men who run an electronic cigarette store, said the new devices are safer than traditional cigarettes and should be treated differently.

In addition to adding the electronic cigarettes restrictions, the council agreed to create no-smoking, “buffer zones” by banning people from smoking within 20 feet of a park, beach, trail or open-air restaurant area.

Barth said the city might add new signage letting people know about the buffer zones.